'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2
This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. No matter what is ahead, knowing what lies behind, I will press on to the prize He has set before me. He has been faithful since the beginning and He will be faithful until the end. With Him, there is no end, only new beginnings everyday...so Praise God people! Get up on your hands and feet, go, and do something for our great and mighty God. Everyday we exist upon this earth, we are one moment closer to our eternity with Him. Don't you want your time here to account for something in His eternal plan?
Each of us has a purpose. Each one is different, not one the same. Use the talents He has given you for His glory. Make His name known in your land. Don't hide behind your fear and insecurities. Lay them at the foot of the cross where He has meant for them to be. Move on, move out, reach out. Start today, it's never too late to start being kingdom and eternity-minded...
Continuing to thank and praise my Awesome God for my one thousand gifts... #41 gathering with friends for a mid-week meal #42 a dream becoming reality (Midway Community Changers) tomorrow #43 leaving fear behind, one minute at a time, and moving on #44 the gift of the FLYlady #45 new braces and the difference they are making for our Sam #46 opportunities to celebrate all He has done #47 a clean, shiny, dish free sink #48 cooler days, shorter days #49 school resuming for a second grader #50 left-overs
What are you thankful for today? He has done great things...
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24
Have you ever just gotten tired of running the race He has set before you? Sometimes I just want to get out of the pack and sit my hind-end down on the sidelines for a while. I'm tired of fighting Satan in my mind, sick of worrying about my children, irritated at how our country can't seem to get it together- I'd really just like to push the pause button, wouldn't you?
Then I'm reminded of Paul. I think of the afflictions he suffered for Christ. Of how he wanted to suffer for Him. Is that my attitude? On most days, to be honest, no. I am usually in my own little world thinking about myself and my little bubble of people around me. I am not concerned about the Kingdom or my place in it. My flesh gets in the way and as Paul said, I do the things I do not want to do.
I want to be Kingdom minded at all times. My desire is to be fully committed to the work He has called me to do here. I long to be the mother, wife, and most of all Jesus-girl He wants me to be. In order to be this woman, I have to get up everyday, put on my battle armor, and fight. Fight Satan. Fight my flesh, my fears, anything that is not of Him. I want to run the race set before me and I want to get the prize He has for me when I complete it!
'Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.' Romans 8:5The tree you see here is a Chinaberry tree. We have been the proud owners of three such trees on our property since we've lived here. We still have two, one was not so lucky. The tree stood right outside our back door. It looked pretty and strong on the outside, even provided some much needed shade on those sweltering SC summer days. The problem with the tree was it started to grow out of control. The branches were so long they draped across a power line going to our outside light (this is a big light put in by the power company-when you live in the sticks you want to put your house under the spotlight in hopes of deterring robbers). I'm sure you can imagine what happened....big storm comes through and said branches fall onto the power line pulling the light sideways. It didn't fall, but the power company had to come out, remove some branches, and replace the power pole.
The hubby tried to cut off some of the bigger branches, but that's a whole story in itself. The decision was made to just cut down the tree. A few guys came and helped the hubby and my shade tree was gone for good. Or so I thought. Just this week, we've noticed little Chinaberry trees popping up in the backyard. The hubby tries to dig them up today and what do you know? The roots of the Chinaberry tree are still there! These things are HUGE and there are little trees growing out of them!
How like the Chinaberry tree we are. We cut off our tree (our flesh, pride, jealousy, fear, etc.) thinking we've gotten rid of it for good. We go about our business believing all is well, but then the tree starts to rear it's ugly head again. The fear we thought we'd conquered slips back up. The issue of jealously we were sure we were over comes back with a vengeance. It's then we realize we've got to chop down our tree and remove the roots as well. The root is what feeds the tree, where the nourishment comes from, what gives it life. To completely remove a flesh pattern in our life, we have to get to the root of the pattern. We can only do this with the help of God. It's nearly impossible to get to the root of our tree without His guidance and help.
If you've got a tree in your life you need to get rid of, seek the assistance of your Holy Father. He is ready and willing to help you get to the root of it when you ask.
As most of you know, our local Women's Ministry just completed the study Moving From Fear to Freedom by Grace Fox. This is an awesome study I would recommend to anyone, even if you don't feel you have fear issues. Underneath it all, each one of us are affected by fear of some sort. I have the privelege of being a part of Grace's blog tour. Below you'll find an interview as well as a video! Enjoy!
Has fear kept you awake at night? Has it hindered you from saying yes to a new opportunity? Has it caused you to make impulsive choices you later regretted? If so, you’re not alone! Fear is a big deal for many women. If left unchecked, it can prevent us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. So, what’s the answer? How can we move beyond fear into freedom?
Author Grace Fox has partnered with Stonecroft Ministries to write a small group resource titled Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman-to-Woman Conversation. This resource addresses women’s common fears and gives biblical and practical strategies to move beyond them.
Fear seems to be an ever-present theme throughout the Bible. Describe the difference between healthy and unhealthy fear.
Healthy fear steers us toward wise decisions and actions. It promotes self-preservation. For example, we look both ways before crossing the street for fear of getting hit by a car. In contrast, unhealthy fear hinders our ability to fully embrace life because it consumes us with negative thinking and what-ifs. The effects can literally make us sick.
How does destructive fear stunt our emotional or spiritual growth?
Destructive fear—the fear of rejection, for instance—might keep us from admitting to someone that we’ve been physically or sexually abused. Without receiving the help we need to deal with those issues, we never experience freedom. Our struggles might seriously hamper our ability to truly love and receive love in a marital relationship. This is just one example among many of how our emotional growth is affected.
Spiritually, fear can cause us to say no to God-given dreams or assignments because we’re afraid of personal inadequacy or financial insecurity. If we never step out in faith, then we never experience God’s ability to equip and provide in amazing ways. Spiritual growth comes when we say yes to God and “do it afraid.”
You suggest we need to place our focus on God and not on fear. In practical terms, how do we do this?
Several strategies that I’ve found helpful…
*Memorize Scripture promises and meditate on them throughout the day and as we fall asleep at night. We are transformed as our mind is renewed.
*Fill our homes with praise and worship music.
*Spend time in God’s word on a regular basis, not just when we’re in a panic. The more we do so, the more familiar we become with His promises and the better prepared we are to face frightening circumstances when they come.
*Talk to the Lord throughout the day. Invite Him into the mundane. Practice His presence. The more we get to know Him, the more we’re able to trust Him in the face of fear.
Most of us feel inadequate at times. You suggest we cannot use our inadequacies as an excuse for not participating with God’s purposes. How do we get past this?
*We get past our fear of inadequacy by admitting we have it. Then we need to retrain our thinking to focus on God’s adequacies rather than our inadequacies.
*Tell God how we feel. "Help! I don't think I can do such-and-such."
*Tell a trusted friend and ask her to pray for us.
*Move forward. Do it afraid and expect God to equip us.
Describe this resource and how participants can receive the greatest benefit as they use it.
It’s a seven-week study filled with biblical teaching and personal anecdotes that can be used easily by either a small group of friends in a private home setting or a large women’s ministry. Each session begins by viewing a 25-30 minute teaching video. When the video ends, participants follow suggested Table Talk questions for about 15 minutes. Then they do the Bible study questions together. Each participant uses her own guide book so she can take notes and write answers. Facilitator’s notes are included. The study covers these topics:
*an overview of fear
*fear for our loved ones' well-being
*fear of personal inadequacy
*fear of rejection
*fear of facing the ghosts of our past
*fear of the storms of life
*fear of the unknown future Where can I buy this study?
It’s available through your local Christian book store, on Amazon, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.christianbooks.com, www.stl-distribution.com, www.winepressbooks.com, and of course, on Grace’s website, where group discounts apply. www.gracefox.com. Visit Grace’s website for more information about her other books and speaking ministry. www.gracefox.com.
For more opportunities for a FREE copy of this DVD & Study Guide set of MOVING FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM, please follow this CSS Virtual Book Tour on Twitter (@Christianspkrs) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/CSSVBT.GraceFox.MovingFromFeartoFreedom)
I was given a complimentary copy of this DVD & Study Guide set from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services (http://www.christianspeakerservices.com/).
'I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.' Psalm 139:14
Linking up today with the Gypsy Mama on the topic of Beauty...
GO.
Do you think you're beautiful? Most of you, like me, would probably say no. You don't think you're pretty enough, smart enough, thin enough...all of the focus is on the outward you. I think I'm not a good enough mama, not neat enough, not organized, so how can someone think I'm beautiful? I'm a mess everywhere you look at me. I don't dress to a 'T', my clothes aren't all that stylish. I spend my time running around after little boys and wearing scrubs while I take care of other peoples family members.
But then I begin to realize it's these things that make me beautiful to the only One that matters. No, not my hubby, friends, or any other human, but my Daddy who sees me as I really am-Beautiful. Because I am His child, He only sees beauty when He looks at me. He sees my heart for Him, my desire to serve Him in all that I do. My beauty also radiates in my children. The boy we adopted from a third world country. The one He choose for us. The other one with the crooked walk, the uncertain future, our joy.
'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2
In a world that seems to spiral further off its axis everyday, there is always something to be thankful for. Always. More so even if you are a child of God. Each breath we draw is an opportunity to say, "Thank You" to the One who is the giver of all things, the bearer of life. Open your eyes, see what He has given you, then open your mouth with thanksgiving.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
What treasures are you laying up on this earth? Wealth, possessions, success? All of the treasures of this world can never measure up to the love of our Lord. Put your life into perspective. Realize what is truly important before it's too late.
